Why the Now-Dominant BQ COVID Strains Are Cause for Concern
The latest circulating COVID-19 variants have shown greater immune escape, which will likely lead to increasing cases over the coming months, experts said. New Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 together now make up more than half of all COVID cases in the U.S. (30.9% and 31.9%, respectively), according to the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker, representing […]
Monoclonal Antibodies May No Longer Be a Match for Emerging COVID Strains
Tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld) and bebtelovimab are likely ineffective against approximately 60% of currently circulating Omicron variants, creating a big gap in protection, particularly for immunocompromised individuals, researchers from a Harvard Medical School-led consortium said at a briefing on Thursday. This is a “big loss,” said Jacob Lemieux, MD, PhD, of the Massachusetts Consortium on Pathogen Readiness […]
DNA shed from colon cancers into bloodstream successfully guides chemotherapy after surgery: Helps clarify the benefit of chemotherapy in stage II cancers
A new research study showed that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) — genetic material shed from tumors into the bloodstream — can identify stage II colon cancer patients who can most benefit from chemotherapy following surgery and spare other patients the need for this form of treatment. The multi-institutional, international study, led by researchers at the […]